One of the fundamental beliefs of The Putney School is that students “work not for marks, badges, or honors; but to discover truth and to grow in human understanding and knowledge of the universe, to treasure the hard stretching of oneself, to render service.” Many of our accomplished alumni have embodied this philosophy as leaders in their respective fields, contributing their knowledge, skills and talent to make the world a better place.
Sam Amidon ’99
Musician
David Amram ’48
Composer
Tim Asch ’51
Anthropologist, filmmaker
Carlos Buhler ’72
Mountaineer
Tim Caldwell ’72
Olympic cross-country skier, son of John Caldwell
Dave Cole ’96
Sculptor
Carlton Cuse ’77
Television creator/writer/showrunner of LOST
Tim Daly ’74
Actor
Lydia Davis ’65
Writer, Man Booker International Prize recipient
Thulani Davis ’61
Playwright, journalist, librettist, novelist, poet, and screenwriter
Anna (Luhrmann) Dewdney ’83
Author and creator of the Llama Llama book series
Barnaby Dorfman ’86
Inventor, technology products
Mahdi ElMandjra ’50
Moroccan futurist, economist and sociologist
Kai T. Erikson ’49
Sociologist
David Griffiths ’60
Physicist, teacher
William B. Gray ’60
United States Attorney for Vermont
Andrea Gruber ’83
Soprano
William Hinton ’36
Author, agricultural advisor, People’s Republic of China
Joan Hinton ’39
Atomic physicist, dairy farmer in China
Lee Hirsch ’90
Filmmaker
Jeffrey Hollender ’73
CEO Seventh Generation Inc.
Reid Hoffman ’85
Web entrepreneur, co-founder of LinkedIn
Isaiah Jackson ’62
Conductor, music professor
Harper Simon ’90
Singer-songwriter, guitarist, producer, son of Paul Simon
Kathleen Kennedy Townsend ’69
Lieutenant Governor, Maryland
Kerry Kennedy ’77
Lawyer and human rights activist
Bill Koch ’73
Olympic cross-country skiing medalist
Mike Ladd ’88
Hip Hop Artist
Jonathan Lash ’63
Former Hampshire College President
Ellen Hamilton Latzen ’99
Actor
Téa Leoni (Pantaleoni) ’84
Actor
Christopher Lehmann-Haupt, ’52
Journalist, critic, novelist
J. Anthony Lukas ’51
Pulitzer prize-winning journalist and author
Darius Marder ’92
Academy award-winning filmmaker
Sally Mann ’69
Fine-art photographer
Joanna Miles ’58
Emmy award-winning actress in The Glass Menagerie
Adrian Morris ’46
Painter
Errol Morris ’65
Filmmaker
Nell Newman ’78
Co-founder/owner, Newman’s Own
Heather Nova ’83
Musician and songwriter
Ted Osius ’79
Former U.S. Ambassador to Vietnam
Ken Olin ’72
Actor, director and TV producer
Bob Perelman ’64
Poet, literary critic and professor
Jonathan Piel ’57
Science journalist, past editor of Scientific American
Tyler Rasch ’06
Television personality
Noel Rockmore ’47
Painter, portraitist
Martha Rockwell ’62
Olympic cross-country ski racer
Jonathan Rosenbaum ’61
Film critic
Christopher Rowland ’80
Journalist
Demetria Royals ’73
Filmmaker
Jonathan Schell ’61
Author
Wallace Shawn ’61
Actor, playwright
Lucy Shelton ’61
Soprano
Alexis Stewart ’83
Television host, daughter of Martha Stewart
Peter Willcox ’72
Greenpeace activist, Arctic Sunrise captain
John Bell Young
American concert pianist
Student Profiles
Ibrahim
year
Senior
Senior
from
Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The art curriculum has shown me that there are other important things to society, and to learning about each other, and to life in general, because, through art, people express how they feel or express what they see.
Sandy
year
Junior
Junior
from
China
China
Putney really allows you to come up with your own ideas. You’re not going to be judged. It’s like you’re free.
Josephine
year
Sophomore
Sophomore
from
Massachusetts
Massachusetts
That’s something that I really appreciate about boarding schools like this, because we have international students and people that come from all different places.
Xander
year
Senior
Senior
from
Florida
Florida
As someone who’s gone to many different schools, I understand what makes this one so unique.
Ash
year
Senior
Senior
from
Washington
Washington
I'm building a model of the sun and the Earth, with gears to make it rotate
Sumeir
year
Senior
Senior
from
India
India
Putney has cultivated this idea of community, that anything I do has to be working for something greater and bigger than myself.
Corinne
year
Senior
Senior
from
Maryland
Maryland
At Putney it’s normal to be so multi-faceted. I really love the people, and how tight knit we are. I’ve learned that self advocacy is a real thing.
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As you explore Putney from among the many alternatives ahead for your child, we think you will discover what a high school can truly be.
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Progressive Education
Putney was founded on the belief that to have a democracy, citizens should actively participate in the decisions that will impact their lives whether economic, social or political. In order
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